Hellmuth kranich and jacques bach



(No Model.)

H. KRANICH 8: J. BACH.

PIANO yMUSIC RACK.

n No. 344,485. Patented June 29, 1886.

N PETERS, Phnmumugnpmr. washington DA C4 UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE,

HELLBIUTH KRANICH AND JACQUES BACH, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

PIANO MUSEO-RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 344,485, dated June 29,1886.

Application filed January 1S, 1886. Serial No. 159,0l7.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HELLMUTH KRANICH and J ircQUEs BACH, of N ew York,in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a certainnew and useful lmprovement in Piano-Fortes, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of our improvement is to provide a piano-forte in asinipleand inexpensive manner with a desk or support for music.

Our improvement consists in the combination, with the front of apiano-forte case, of a hinged leaf, a lip or rail at one edge to supporta piece or book of music when the leafis swung down, and a flexibleconnection between the leaf and the stationary part of the front of thepiano-forte for sustaining the leaf when the latter is swung down.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front View of an uprightpianoforte en1bodying our improvement, showing the hinged leaf in boldoutline closed and in dotted outline swung down to support a piece orbook of music. Fig. 2 is a Vertical transverse section of the front ofthe same, showing the hinged leaf in bold lines closed and in dottedlines swung down.

Similar letters of reference designate corre spending parts in all theiigures.

A designates the front of a pianoforte case. It is provided with aswinging leaf, c, which in the present example of our invention formsthe upper section of a panel, A, the lower section, c', of the panelbeing a fixture in the ease-front.

The panel A may be made of wood and ornamented with fret-work.

Hinges Z) of any approved forni may be used to secure the section orleaf to the section c.

The section or leaf a is provided with a catch, c, for securing it whenit is closed, or, in other words, swung up into line with the section c.The catch shown is especially de sirable for the leaf or section c,because it will not be conspicuous when the said leaf or section isclosed. It consists of a resilient bent plate attached to the top edgeof the leaf or section c, and adapted to engage with a pin arranged inthe top part of the opening, in which the leaf or section fits whenclosed.

The sections c c of the panel A are rab- (No model.)

beted at the meeting-edges, so as to overlap and make a close joint.

Between the free edge of the leaf or section c and the stationary partof the frame there is aiexible connection, C. This connection, as shown,is fastened to the free end of the leaf or section c and the part of theframe that is immediately above the opening into which the leaf orsection fits when closed. This connection may consist of a plain strapor straps or strips or pieces of wood fastened together so as to becapable of flexure; but, preferably, it will consist of a handsomefabric-such, for instance, as velvet-extending the whole width of theleaf or section and the opening into which it may be closed. Then theleaf or section c is swung down, the connection O sup ports it at anangle. XVhen it is closed, the connection C hangs behind it, occupyingspace between the front of the case and the action of the piano-forte orthe space above the action.

Near the free edge the leaf or section a is provided with a lip or rail,d. This is hinged to the surface which is innermost when the leaf orsection is closed and outermost when the leaf or section is swung down.lt can be folded against the surface of the leaf or section when thelatter is to be closed, in order that it shall not project unnecessarilyor swung outward from the leaf or section when the latter is swung down,so that it will support a piece or book of music.

Our desk or support consisting of the swinging hinged leaf andconnection possesses many advantages. The weight of a piece or book ofmusic placed on it will tend to keep it open rather than to close it. Itcan be opened and closed after the key board cover has been openedwithout necessitating any shifting of 9o the key-board cover. It is ofsuch construction that the surface which is exposed to view when theleaf is closed will be protected from injury through the contact with itofthe piece or book of music supported by it. It is not liable to rattleduringthe playing of the pianoforte.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. The combination, with the front of a pianoforte case, of a leafhinged thereto at the end which is lowest when the leaf is closed, a

ICC

lip ori rail at one edge, and a connection between the leaf and thestationary part of the pianoforte-case front, consisting ofpa piece offlexible material connected to the end of the 5 leaf which is uppermostwhen the leaf is closed, substantially as specified.A

2. The combination, with the frontof a piano-forte case, of a hingedleaf, a lip or rail hinged to the leaf near the free edge and to thesurface which is innermost when the leaf 1o is closed, and a iiexibleconnection between the leaf and the stationary part of thepianoforte-case front, substantially as specified.

HELLMUTH KRANIGH. JACQUES BACH. Witnesses:

W. SOHTZ, C. APPELL, Jr.

